How To Get Fertilized Essence From Garden

Introduction: Natural Fertilizer for Your Garden From Your Kitchen

When I first started to garden a couple years ago I couldn't believe all the knowledge I needed to gain just to plant a few flowers. What was my soil type, sun in the morning or afternoons, do you get lots of weeds, slugs, ants? The questions just kept coming. But one question I had already figured out that I wanted to use natural fertilizer on our fruits and vegetables like my great grand parents did. I want my vegetables to taste real and not over produced.
That meant a lot more reading and research regarding natural fertilizers.

It might take a little bit of time collecting all of the ingredients, keeping track when you give different fertilizers to each plant and at times it can be messy but think of the pay off. You know all the ingredients that your plants are getting. You are enriching the soil and helping out the compost too!

Please note, in this instructable I will share with you how to make simple fertilizer from your kitchen for your garden. I have researched plants that are in my garden and the information I am relaying to you is by no means a complete list of what the natural ingredient can do for other plants.

Supplies

Egg shells

Coffee Grounds

Large Container

Banana Peels

Large Wooden Spoon

2 Cup Glass Liquid Measurement

Large Watering Can

Epson Salts

Calendar

Cinnamon

Step 1: Banana Tea

I often enjoy a good cup of tea in the afternoon so I thought my garden would also enjoy a good cup of Banana tea once every 10 days.

Bananas are very rich in Phosphorus and Potassium which helps to enrich the plant's especially fruit like Tomatoes, Strawberry, Raspberry and Apple trees. That being said, I add banana tea to my whole garden and I reap the rewards. My garden consists of: Spinach, Thyme, Dill, Carrots, Peppers, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, Parsley, Mint, and Tarragon.

To make the Banana Tea:

- Remove sticker from the banana.

- Using a large glass container, fill with banana peels.

- Fill with cold water so the water level is over the peels.

- Keep filling up with peels and water until you reach the top of the container.

- Let is sit for a week either on your counter or in the fridge.

- In about 1 week or so you will need to drain the peels.

- I compost the banana peels and keep the water (Tea).

- 1 cup of Banana Tea to 1 Gallon of water is the perfect cuppa for your garden plants.

Step 2: Egg Shells

Egg shells are rich in extra calcium which help your Tomato and Pepper plants. Some people put the whole egg shell at the bottom of the hole before planting the tomato however I like to plant my tomatoes and give them a couple of weeks to settle into their environment.

I like to crush the egg shell and plant it around and the tomatoes. Allowing the egg shell to slowly release it's nutrients over time.

- To do this you will need to collect enough egg shells to fill a small bowl.

- You can either use a large zip lock bag and a rolling pin for this step or a mort and pistal.

- Fill your bag or mortier with the egg shells and begin to crush until you have them at the desired consistency.

- Apply to your Tomato and Pepper Plants.

Step 3: Coffee

We know that coffee gives us that extra boost of caffeine, well your plants also enjoy the extra boost but not too much!

Used Coffee grounds provide nitrogen and can be used in many different ways in your garden. Although you can add it to your compost or make mulch, that is not our focus. I use coffee grounds in my garden to help fertilizer my fruits and vegetables. These are the following plants that enjoy a little caffeine, Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Carrots and Parsley. I give my plants coffee grounds about once a month. If you give your plants the grounds too often then you are adding too much nitrogen to the soil resulting in stunting the growth of your plants.

Remember to write down on your calendar when and what plant you gave the used coffee grounds to.

If you are in need of more coffee grounds than what you are drinking, many coffee shops including Starbucks offer their used coffee grounds free of charge.

Another way I use this great product is to detour garden pests. Stop slugs and snails invading your strawberries. Don't like sharing your lettuce with the slugs? Ants enjoying your tomatoes? Place a protective ring of used coffee grounds around these vulnerable plants. The garden pests dislike the smell and are repelled by it.

Step 4: Epson Salts

Epsom salt is used in the garden to kill weeds when added to some other natural ingredients however I use it as a natural mineral compound for my Tomato's and Pepper plants.

Side Dress* 1 TBSP of Epsom salt for every 1Ft in height of your Tomato/ Pepper plant.
Do this twice a month. Remember to mark it down on the calendar. This is important when working with natural fertilizers so you can space everything out.

*Side dressing is when you sprinkle solid pellet fertilizer, 6 inches away from the plants stem but around the growing plant.

Step 5: Bonus-Pest Control

There are many pests both large and small that visit gardens on a daily basis hoping to get their share of the growing bounty.

I have given you a strategy to deal with ants, slugs and snails but what about furry pests?

The other day I went out to pick some strawberries and a little critter beat me to the punch but he was kind as he saved the other half for me!
To stop the furry pest from eating your garden I use Cinnamon and sprinkle it all around the outside of my garden. The pests, who have their noses low to the the ground, do not like the smell.

Step 6: Final Notes

I hope you find this information helpful/ useful to grow a natural garden. If you have any questions please ask and I will try to answer them.

Thanks
Marve 48

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